Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery

For the most basic orthopedic conditions to the most complex, our pediatric orthopedic surgeons work in partnership with orthopedic and rehabilitation medicine specialists at Children’s Hospital Colorado to provide the safest and most effective surgical treatments.

Because surgery can be challenging for patients, our team may first recommend a non-operative approach, such as bracing or casting for infants with scoliosis. However, if surgery is the best option, our team of experienced pediatric orthopedic surgeons offers innovative approaches with outcomes among the best in the nation.

Watch this video to learn what to expect from Orthopedic surgery at Children's Colorado:

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Why choose Children's Colorado for Pediatric Orthopedic surgery?

At Children’s Colorado, we have 14 dedicated pediatric orthopedic surgeons who perform more than 3,500 procedures a year in operating rooms specially designed for young patients.

15Active Members of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America

7Sports Medicine Certified Surgical Assistants

20Designated Pediatric Spine Surgery Anesthesiologists

Our surgeries are planned and performed in partnership with orthopedic doctors, physician assistants, rehabilitation medicine specialists and nurses. This entire team is specially trained and experienced in caring for young patients before and after surgery, from basic to complex operations.

Because of the large number of patients we see, our team is one of the most experienced in the country in planning surgical treatments for children and young adults with all types of orthopedic conditions. In addition to being a regional referral center for broken bones and sports injuries, we are a national referral center for complex surgeries addressing spine, hip and hand problems/disorders, bone tumors, as well as neuromuscular conditions like cerebral palsy.

What makes us unique?

Because our team understands kids so well – including their growth and developmental stages – our approach to surgeries and rehabilitation are always age-appropriate. And for complex patients with long-term needs, Children’s Colorado offers continuity of care into young adulthood, which means we follow patients into their 20s and then help them transition to an adult provider whenever needed.

The Connection Journey: Healing the Whole Athlete

Carolyn knows the challenge of sports injury recovery. She tore her ACL last year, but is now back on the field and sharing her journey with Erin who is about to have ACL reconstructive surgery.

Innovation and technology means better outcomes for kids

At the Orthopedics Institute, we’re proud to offer access to innovative surgeries and technological resources to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes. Here are a few highlights:

We are one of only a few national centers offering VEPTR Surgery, an implanted device used to treat patients with scoliosis and thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS), a disease marked by severe deformities of the chest, spine and ribs that prevent normal pulmonary development. Though rare, our team sees many patients with TIS each year and we actively participate in multi-institutional research protocols aimed at optimizing care for these children.

Through our Sports Medicine Center, we offer the full range of surgical therapies for common sports injuries, including ACL reconstruction, meniscal repair, and arthroscopy to name a few.

We have dedicated orthopedic oncology surgeons who not only remove tumors, but also offer innovative surgical options for limb preservation and reconstruction in order to maximize functional outcomes. One of our unique options is the Van Ness procedure.

Lastly, because surgery can be tough on kids and their family, we offer several family-centered support services, such as a monthly spine surgery orientation class and a Welcome Program to introduce families to our hospital and other resources.

How are we improving surgery options and care for kids and young adults?

We offer a conservative non-operative approach for children with early onset scoliosis, correcting or slowing progression of the curve through casting instead of surgery.

Our team developed a streamlined process for patients with cerebral palsy needing spine surgery. The spine surgery team documented improved outcomes and decreased length-of-stay after using this process in the Summer 2010 issue of Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics.

State-of-the-art spinal cord monitoring (overseen by a neuropsysiologist and neurologist during surgery) is routinely used to ensure safer outcomes for patients.